Material handling apparatus



NOV. 3-, 196 N PKNKHAM I 3 376 126 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Lei Jan. 15, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR News W. P\v\K\no\m D1560 ww z WWW v ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1969 N. w. PINKHAM MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. l6, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nov. 4, 1969 W. PINKHAM MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 16, 1967 R O T N E V W New e\\ W. PmKhawx W A ORNEYS BY 131L860 OMS Y 1969 N. w. PINKHAM MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 16, 1967 m E V m V V a 0 7 1 6 V E rm 0 a h v 4 W fo 2 5 l 5 V L A 5 E NW 6 M L b Q M L a H a m-" n I L f LM w m n r e A u .0 ID 8 V W\%@ O I C m .ww hwflmhl M 90- m TP mi 0 ML w W M a T N O I Z 3 55 w w w w NeweM W PmKham 10A BY OMS M ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,476,126 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Newell W. Pinkharn, 2 Elm Road, Cromwell, Conn. 06416 Filed Jan. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 609,621

' Int. Cl. B08b 3/06 US. Cl. 134-60 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for washing industrial parts, chips, or high-value scrap, or any similar materials. Additionally, the apparatus can be used for coating, plating, or mixing of materials. The apparatus includes a conveyor for supporting a basket, an elevator for raising the basket to position above a washing tank. Indexing mechanism is also provided for transferring the basket onto a second elevator which then lowers the basket into the tank. Thereafter the basket is agitated While in the tank and, after a predetermined time interval, is raised out of the tank.

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing industrial parts, chips, or high-value scrap, or any similar materials. Additionally, the apparatus may be used for coating, plating, or mixing of materials.

The apparatus of this invention is constructed to use water solutions of soaps, bases, detergents, etc. at high temperatures to remove cutting oils, chips and industrial soil from parts in process. The apparatus of this invention does not require industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene and, accordingly, it will function with substantial cost saving. Additionally, the apparatus of this invention does not require an operator in attendance, as with prior art vapor degreasing techniques. Further, with the apparatus of this invnetion, there is no industrial health hazard nor objectionable odor developed during the cleansing process.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved material handling apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus for washing materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved apparatus suitable for plating, acid cleaning, coating, rinsing, soaking, chip-removing and mixing materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved washing apparatus which utilizes water solutions of soaps, bases and detergents for removing cutting oils, chips and industrial soils from parts in process.

Still other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the apparatus taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, partially diagrammatic, of the electrical control system for operating the apparatus according to this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown the material handling apparatus which includes an automatic feed conveyor 10 for delivering a wire basket, a porous container, or the like, shown at 11 over a plurality of rollers 12 which are supported by the apparatus frame. The basket 11 is positioned on top of an elevator platform 13 comprising a plurality of rollers 14. The function of the elevator platform 13 is to raise the container to a level such that it may be positioned in a wash tank shown at 15. The platform 13 is raised by an air-operated cylinder 16 having a piston 17 which, when actuated, raises a member 18 to which is coupled two other members shown at 19 and 20 provided with guide rollers 21. The members 19 and 20 support another member 22 to which the platform 13 is hinged at 23.

Upon extension of the piston 17 in an upward direction, the members 18, 19 and 20 are guided in guides shown at 24 and 25, respectively, to raise the platform 13. When the container 11 has been raised, an indexing mechanism comprising a plurality of plates -32, functions to position the container over the wash tank 15. The plates 3032 are coupled to members and 36, respectively, which ride on tracks 37 and 38, respectively. The members 35 and 36 are coupled together by a bracket 39. The bracket 39 and the plates 30-32 are positioned by a cylinder 40 having a piston 41, said cylinder 40 being coupled to the frame at 42. By causing the piston 41 to move to the right of FIG. 2, the plates 30-32 'will also move to the right of FIG. 2, and vice versa.

The wash tank 15 comprises a bottom 45 and side walls 46 and 47. As part of the tank 15, there is provided a supplemental tank 48, a section of which is partitioned by walls shown at 49. In order for the supplemental tank 48 to communicate with the wash tank 15, openings 50 are provided. Also as part of the supplemental tank 48, there is provided a pump mechanism 51 having a tube 52 extending into the wash tank 15. The tube 52 is provided with a plurality of openings for permitting water to be expelled therefrom. The pump 51 takes the water at the bottom of supplemental tank 48 and recirculates it through the wash tank 15. The supplemental tank also has a weir 53 for skimming the surface of the expelled fluid of the wash tankln this manner the scum of surface dirt of the wash tank is permitted to be removed by the tap at the end of tube 52.

There is also provided a soap dispenser shown at 55, which is coupled to a vibrating mechanism 56 for dispensing soap into the wash tank 15. The soap is placed in the dispenser and exits through openings therein as it is vibrated.

The water in the tank 15 is heated by hot gases piped through a conduit shown at 58. The hot gases are provided from a furance in the manner of the prior art. Positioned adjacent to the Wash tank 15 is a rinse tank shown at 60, having a bottom 61, one side wall 62 and the other side wall provided by the common side wall 47 of the wash tank. The rinse tank is also provided with a supplemental tank 63 and a pump mechanism 64 having a pipe 65 for recirculating water into the bottom of the tank 60. Water enters the supplemental tank 63 through an opening 63a located below the water level. The water in the rinse tank is also heated by gases in the conduit 58 which passes into the tank 15.

The side wall 47, positioned between the wash tank 15 and the rinse tank 60, has a V-shaped cut 66 therein which permits the flow of the water from the rinse tank to the wash tank. Clean water is provided to the rinse tank by means of a valve 67 which controls the flow of water from a pipe 68 connected to a fresh water source. The amount of water permitted to enter the rinse tank is controlled by a flow control relay 69. The operation of the mechanism for providing clean water to the rinse tank operates on demand, based on the water level in the wash tank. The operation of the relay 69 will be more fully explained in conjunction with the description of FIG. 6. By the use of the system for providing fresh water, the water from the rinse tank is used in the Wash tank and clean water is provided only to the rinse tank.

Generally speaking, the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5 operates as follows: the container 11 is positioned upon platforms shown at 70 and 71 by the platform 13 and the plates 30 and 31. The platform 70 is positioned within the tank 15 and the platform 71 is positioned within the rinse tank 60. During operation of the apparatus, the container 11 is lowered into the wash tank and the rinse tank by the movement of platforms 70 and 71, respectively. The movement of the platforms is controlled by an air-actuated cylinder 72 having a piston 73 which is connected by a U-shaped member 74 to the platforms 70 and 71. The member 74 is connected to piston 73 by a member shown at 75. As may be seen, the platforms 70 and 71 have mesh surfaces, such that when immersed in fluid, the fluid may enter the container 11 positioned thereon. More particularly, in operation, the container 11 is delivered from the conveyor 10 onto the elevator and then raised by the platform 13. At this point the plate moves the container onto the platform 70 and thereafter the container is lowered into the tank 15. The container is then agitated for a predetermined period of time, that is, raised and lowered between two predetermined positions within the wash tank. After agitation, the platform 70 raises the container and then the plate 31 moves it to the platform 71. Thereafter it is lowered into the rinse tank 60 and it is again agitated. After a predetermined period of time the container is again raised and is pushed out by plate 32 onto rollers 80. If desired, the apparatus according to this invention could also be provided with a drying chamber into which the container may be positioned. In operation, the container is positioned within the tanks and, thereafter, the plates 30-32 are moved back to their original position.

This apparatus may be operated on a continuous basis, such that while the parts in one container are being washed, the parts in another container are being rinsed, and a third container is being positioned by the platform 13, such that the plates 30-32 may move the containers into position for the next phase of operation.

To more fully explain the operation of the apparatus, attention should now be directed to FIG. 6 which schematically shows the control system for operating the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5. In FIG. 6 the contacts or switches are schematically shown as two solid parallel lines with or without slash lines therethrough. Those switches having parallel lines without slash marks indicate normally open switches and those having parallel lines with slash marks therethrough denote normally closed switches. The blocks indicated as 16a, a and 72a represent the valves to control cylinders 16, 40 and 72, respectively. The cylinder 16 has a normally retracted piston, whereas cylinder 72 has a normally extended piston, that is, the piston of cylinder 16 must be forced upwardly but is self-retractible, whereas the piston of cylinder 72 is normally extended but must be forced into retracting position. On the other hand, piston 41 of cylinder 40 will move only in either direction under the influence of air or fluid pressure. In this apparatus the cylinders are preferably pneumatically actuated from a source of air (not shown), although it is to be understood that hydraulically actuated means, etc., may be applied to accomplish the same result. It should be understood that the source of air for controlling the cylinders disclosed in the drawing is the same as is used in the prior art.

FIG. 6 also shows contacts for limit switches L1-L6. Switch L1 is shown in FIG. 3, and is responsive to the mechanism for positioning platforms 70 and 71. Limit switches L2 and L3 are also provided, which are responsive to the position of the platforms 70 and 71 and which function to control the agitation of the container 11. Limit switch L4 is provided and is responsive to the position of the platform 13, Whereas a limit switch L5 is further provided which is responsive to the position of the plates 30-32. Another switch L6 is positioned to be responsive to the container 11 passing thereover. Switch L6 also acts as a safety device in the event two containers should be provided at the same time. As shown in FIG. 6, there is also provided a plurality of control servo valves SV1 and SV2. The valve SV1, which is synonymous with valve 67, controls the entrance of fresh water into the rinse tank 60, whereas valve SV2 controls the entrance of air to the vibrator 56 of the soap dispenser 55.

A motor 100, including cams 101-104, is provided to control the timing of the operation of the circuitry of FIG. 6. Each of these cams is shaped such that it can control contacts 101a-104a, respectively. Initially, contacts 101a-103a, which are normally closed contacts, are held open by the cams, whereas normally open contact 104a is closed due to the position of the cutout in cam 104.

Additionally, to provide a controlled time cycle for washing and rinsing, a timer motor T1 is provided which controls the relay coil Tla and contacts T11) and Tlc. Another timer motor T2 is also provided to control the length of time the soap is dispensed from the dispenser 55. The timer T2 also controls the energization of a coil T2a and a contact T2b.

At 106 of the drawing there is shown the circuitry for causing the platforms 70 and 71 to raise and lower within tanks 15 and 60 to agitate the water to wash and rinse the parts held in the container 11. Additionally, at 107 there is shown the control circuitry for the conveyor schematically shown at 10 in FIGS. l-3.

Also disclosed generally :at 108 is the circuitry for the control of the operation of the pumps 51 and 64 which control the circulation of the water within the wash and rinse tanks.

Now considering the operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5 in conjunction with the schematic diagram of FIG. 6, power is supplied to the circuitry by closure of a switch 110 through a transformer shown at 111. A startstop switch 112 is then depressed to close, such that cam motor is energized through contact Tlc and the cams 101-104 start rotating clockwise. At this point, normally open switch Lla is held closed by the position of ram member 73.

Assuming now that the container 11 from the conveyor 10 is positioned properly on platform 13, the switch L6a will be normally closed although it opened momentarily as the container entered the platform 13. As the motor 100 continues to rotate, the cam 101 will permit its contact 101a which was held open, to close and thereby energize the valve 16a, causing the platform 13 to rise. When the platform 13 reaches the top of its travel, the formerly open switch L4 closes, energizing valve 40a and thus the piston of the cylinder 40 begins to move plates 30-32 to cause the container with the work parts therein to be moved above the wash tank 15. The indexing mechanism carrying plates 30-32 thereafter causes limit switch L5 to close. At this time the cam 101 once again causes contact 101a to open. Thereafter, the cam 102 permits switch 102a to close, energizing valve 72a and thus forcing fluid into the cylinder 72 and causing it to move in a downward direction through switch L2. This causes the platforms 70 and 71 to move downwardly into the tanks. Simultaneously, timers T1 and T2 are reset by the closure of contact 102a. As the resetting of timers T1 and T2 causes contacts T2b to close and Tlc to open and Tlb to close, the motor 100 keeps operating since it is now energized through contact Tlb. At this time the cam 103 permits contact 103a to close and the motor 100 stops, since cam 102 has now timed out and contact 102a again opens. Upon closure of contact 103a, the pumps 51 and 64 begin to operate since the relay contact 108a closes and coil 8b is energized. Additionally, since the water control switch 69 is now on the power line, if water is needed in the wash tank the valve SV1 will operate to permit water to flow therein. Simultaneously, the agitation circuit is energized, that is, the circuit 106 will cause the platforms 70 and 71 to be continuously positioned between two locations within the wash and rinse tanks. At this point the cylinder 40 has moved the indexing mechanism plates 30-32 back to original position, since the normally closed switch Llb, which is held open, is permitted to close and, further, switch L5 opens.

At this time the timers T1 and T2 also begin to operate. After piston 73 has bottomed the platforms 70 and 71, the switch L3 opens and the piston 73 will again try to normally extend. When the platforms 70 and 71 reach a predetermined height, the switch L2 will be caused to close, thereby energizing coil 106a and closing contacts 10612 and 1060. This then causes piston 73 to again move downwardly and switch L2 opens. Power is continuously applied, since switch L3 maintains power to the valve 72a through the closed relay contact 106c. When the cylinder again causes platforms 70 and 71 to bottom within the tanks, the limit switch L3 opens, thus de-energizing valve 72a and permitting the piston 73 to once again extend upwardly.

The oscillations between two levels in the tanks continues until the timer T1 times out and causes the normally closed contact Tlc to close once again to cause motor 100 to start. At this time the cam 103 rotates and opens the contact 103a and thereby de-energizes the circuitry 106. While timer T1 is operating, timer motor T2 is operating to close contact T2b, thus actuating the vibrator through the valve SV2. The valve SV2 causes air to be provided to the vibrator, causing the dispenser 55 to expel soap therefrom. The vibrator is of the common, pneumatically-actuated, prior art type and may be purchased from Branford Vibrators of New Britain, Connecticut. The control for the vibrator, which is generally shown at 107, at actuated in response to the closing of contact 103a.

The conveyor of this apparatus operates only during the time the parts in the container are being washed in the tank 15. The conveyor control system comprises a silicon control time delay'relay 107a of the type which may be purchased from Heinemann, Inc. of New Jersey. The time delay relay comprises a coil 107k and a normally closed contact 107e. Additionally, the control system for the conveyor comprises relay coil 107d for controlling relay contacts 107e and 107i. As part of the overall conveyor control, the limit switch L6b, which is responsive to the passage of parts container 11 thereover, is also coupled in circuit with the coil 107d. In operation, when contact 103a closes, the coil 100d is energized to close contacts 107e and 107i and thus start the conveyor motor 10a. After a short period of time (approximately two seconds) coil 107b causes delay contact 107e to open, but coil 107d remains energized through a holding circuit comprising contact 107e, coil 107d and switch L6b. As the container 11 passes over limit switch L6b, this switch opens, thereby de-energizing coil 107d and opening contacts 107e and 107 At this time the container 11 is again ready to be raised, depending upon the operation of the cam motor 100.

After the time period that 103a opens again, eventually cam 104 causes the normally open but held closed contact 104a to open. If the start-stop switch is in the stop position the whole system will stop; if not, and the switch remains in the start position, the entire operation will again repeat itself in the order previously described.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are elficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, having two adjacent tanks therein, for washing, coating, plating or mixing of industrial parts, comprising (a) a first tank,

(b) a first elevator platform positioned outside and adjacent to the bottom of said first tank when it is in position for receiving any container having parts therein, said first elevator platform adapted to include a section of a conveyor,

(0) means for raising and lowering said first elevator platform,

(d) a second elevator platform for holding a container thereon located above said first tank,

( e) means for raising and lowering said second elevator platform,

(f) a second tank located adjacent to said first tank,

(g) a third elevator platform for holding a container thereon located above said second tank,

(h) means for raising and lowering said third elevator platform, and

(i) an indexing mechanism which simultaneously moves a container located on said first elevator platform to said second elevator platform, a container located on said second elevator to said third elevator platform, and a container located on said third elevator platform from said third platform, with each of said containers loosely sitting on its respective platform and said indexing mechanism being operative only when each of said elevator platforms is in the raised position.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including conveyor means operable during the period of time a container is being agitated in the first tank, to deliver another container to said first elevator platform.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first tank is a wash tank and the second tank is a rinse tank, including means for causing the transfer of fluid from said rinse tank to said wash tank in accordance with the level of fluid in said wash tank.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, including vibratory means for dispensing cleansing agents into said wash tank for predetermined periods of time.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, including a supplementary tank connected to said wash tank so that the liquid in said wash tank can easily flow into said supplementary tank, and wherein a weir is provided in said wash tank for skimming of dirt on said liquid and pumping means for recirculating clean water from the supplemental tank into the wash tank.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said indexing mechanism for positioning a container on said second and third elevator platforms moves back to its original starting position after said second and third elevator platforms move into said tank.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including electrical means on said first elevator platform which stops the elevator from moving if an additional object is placed on the elevator in addition to a single container.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further including means for independently oscillating the second and third elevator platforms within the first and second tanks, respectively, between two levels in said tanks for predetermined periods of time.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including means for simultaneously oscillating the second and third elevator platforms within the first and second tanks, respectively, between two levels in said tanks for predetermined periods of time.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, includ- 5 ing means for skimming soil from said first tank.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,153,577 4/1939 Levine 134-109 XR 2,218,698 10/1940 Clark.

3,179,115 4/1965 Ek et a1. 134-49 XR 1,029,541 6/ 1912 Haustetter 134-60 15 1,401,437 12/ 1921 Pearson.

8 5/1934 Howard. 4/1936 Dinley 134-60 4/1963 Rowan et a1. 134-141 XR 5/1964 Cooper et a1. 134-83 XR 7/1964 Moran 134-100 12/1968 Brown 134-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1949 Great Britain. 11/ 1959 Italy.

ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

